Florida’s deadline for candidates to qualify for 2014 ballot is noon today

Whether they’re seeking the governor’s mansion or a spot on the Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation Board, candidates across Florida have until noon today to submit paperwork and pay filing fees to get on the 2014 ballot.

This year’s qualifying period, which began Monday, has already seen two Republicans file to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in the Aug. 26 primary. One of the Republicans, Yinka Adeshina, initially sought to pay her $7,816.38 filing fee with a check featuring Scooby Doo characters on it. And that’s not the oddest thing about Adeshina’s campaign, as Post On Politics details here.

Democrats will have a gubernatorial primary as well, with former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and former state Sen. Nan Rich both qualifying for the ballot this week. Libertarian Adrian Wylie, no-party candidate Joe Allen and five write-ins have also been certified as candidates for governor so far.

School board candidate David Mech during his porn days.

In Palm Beach County,this week’s qualifying period for state and local candidates has featured former porn star David Mech — known to X-rated video watchers as Dave Pounder – securing a spot on the ballot as a school board challenger to incumbent Karen Brill.

Two candidates who qualified for the ballot in Palm Beach County this week are trying to uphold family tradition. School board candidate Piaget “Peppi” Hendrix is the son of the late Daniel Hendrix, who in the 1970s was elected as the first black member of the school board. And attorney Michelle Santamaria is trying to win the western District 6 county commission seat now held by her father, Jess Santamaria, who is leaving office because of term limits.

Follow qualifying developments all day at PostOnPolitics.com and PalmBeachPost.com and on Twitter @gbennettpost.